Playmaker’s Blog
Bad Shot
August 30, 2005Alexander Hamilton & Aaron Burr
In 1804, former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr grew furious over the chiding remarks of Alexander Hamilton, a founding father who spurred Federalists to turn back Burr in the upcoming New York Gubernatorial race, a campaign Burr eventually lost. Anxious for revenge and looking to resurrect his failing career, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. Hamilton accepted, reluctantly. On the morning of July 11, 1804, the two met on the dueling grounds at Weehawken, New Jersey. They marched 10 paces, turned and fired their single shots. Burr was unscathed.
Picture Perfect
August 29, 2005
Fuji Film
In 1984, the upstart camera film manufacturer Fuji paid one million dollars for sponsorship rights of the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, a preemptive strike in the back yard of their unwitting U.S. competitor Kodak. Leveraging its new-found prestige as The Games’ official film, Fuji began its steady rise in the camera film business on a world-size stage, moving from a regional supplier to a major player.
Grand Play Senator
August 22, 2005Hilary Clinton
Hillary Clinton reacted to the news that the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game contained hidden pornographic content. Her reaction is a Bear Hug where the Democratic Senator is adopting the platform of the GOP in an attempt to position herself as a Family Values politician.
Hip Check
August 22, 2005
PS3 & XBOX
The competition among video game makers is a rough and tumble game for scrappy playmakers. It is an endless match of technology tit-for-tat that forces players either to leap frog with faster and better games or match their competitor with parity products. Here is an example of the latter, a well-run Crowd by Sony: On Thursday, May 12, 2005, Microsoft unveiled its much anticipated XBox 360.
Smoking Jacket
August 22, 2005
Ted Turner
Ted Turner’s 1997 pledge of $1 billion to the United Nations was a historic act of charity and a notable Challenge aimed directly at fellow business billionaires awash in profits of the 1990s. CNN reported, “Turner chided fellow billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett for not donating more money to charity. ‘What good is wealth sitting in the bank?’ Turner said at the annual meeting of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.